Who is the author of the Hindi novel 'Tamas'?

"Tamas" (meaning "darkness") is a Hindi novel by Bhisham Sahni, published in 1974. It won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Hindi in 1975.

About the novel:

• It is set in a small town in Punjab (now in Pakistan) during the communal riots that broke out just before the Partition of India in 1947.
• It shows how political manipulation, fear and hatred turned ordinary people of different communities against each other, and how the British administration failed to stop the violence.
• The author drew on his own experience of the riots in Rawalpindi in 1947.
• In 1988, the novel was adapted into a television film and series directed by Govind Nihalani, which was shown on Doordarshan and won national awards.

About Bhisham Sahni (1915-2003):

• He was born in Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan).
• He was the younger brother of the famous film actor Balraj Sahni.
• He worked as a teacher, translator and writer, and was associated with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
• His other works include the plays "Hanush", "Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein" and "Madhavi", and short stories such as "Cheef Ki Daawat".
• He received the Padma Bhushan (1998).

Other famous Hindi novels on Partition and society:

• "Jhootha Sach": Yashpal (on Partition).
• "Kitne Pakistan": Kamleshwar (Sahitya Akademi Award, 2003).
• "Aadhe Adhure" is a play by Mohan Rakesh.
• "Raag Darbari": Shrilal Shukla.
• "Maila Anchal": Phanishwar Nath Renu.

Partition in English fiction:

• "Train to Pakistan" by Khushwant Singh.
• "Ice-Candy-Man" by Bapsi Sidhwa.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Yashpal wrote "Jhootha Sach", another major Partition novel.
• ✗Mohan Rakesh is known for the plays "Ashadh Ka Ek Din" and "Aadhe Adhure".
• ✗Kamleshwar wrote "Kitne Pakistan".